The Zimmer Biomet dental and spine spinoff designed Virage as an occipital-cervico-thoracic (OCT) spinal fixation system. It features the company’s 360° omnidirectional extreme-angle screw.
Westminster, Colorado-based ZimVie said in a news release that Virage simplifies rod alignment and minimizes operating time. It said its screws allow for 112° of conical range of motion, facilitating optimal screw placement.
ZimVie enhanced the Virage system to make it compatible with commercially available navigation systems. It also allows for the navigation of bone preparation instruments and polyaxial screws in the spine. ZimVie said it complements its previously released Vital navigation system for the thoracolumbar spine.
Virage provides information to guide surgical planning. It creates a 3D map between points on the patient and corresponding points on the patient’s images. This helps to track the position of the patient and surgical instruments in real time.
The system uses an array and displays real-time positioning and trajectory of tracked instruments relative to the patient’s anatomy. Surgeons can use the information to plan and realize the point of entry, trajectory and final position of instruments.
ZimVie said this gives surgeons the best placement for spinal implants to address the patient’s condition. It can especially help in minimally invasive surgery, the company said, as smaller incisions may reduce normal visibility.
“The Virage Navigation System plays a crucial role in ZimVie’s enabling technology strategy, rounding out our ability to navigate pedicle screws in the entire spine,” said Rebecca Whitney, SVP, global spine president, ZimVie. “Virage also allows us to compete with existing navigation-compatible systems.”
